Belt



Patented July 1, 1941 v UNITED STATES PATENT ol-"FICE Y' 42,247,835

Irby F. Gassert anni James C. Hoifman,

assignors to Texas Tanning Manufac- Company, Yoakam, Tex., a corporation Tex., turing of Texas Yoakum,

Application August Z3, 1940, Serial No. 353,959

8 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to belts and it is one object of theinvention to provide a belthaving a buckle and top loops so mounted that they may be removed and others substituted. It will thus be seen that a buckle and set of loops may be transferred from one belt to another or a merchant may carry a stock of extra buckles and loops of various types and qualities and of different values and apply a selected buckle and set of loops. The customer may also purchase extra buckles and loops to be yselectively applied to the belt when so desired and, in addition, metal buckles and loops may be detached from a belt 'and cleaned and replaced without soiling Ithe belt.

Another object of the invention is to provide a belt including a main strap-like body and auxiliary straps carried thereby, one of the auxiliary straps carrying the buckle and the top loops and having portions rmly but detachably held in engagement with the body in suchl a manner that while the buckle and the loops will be rmly held in place they may beeasily removed when so desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. belt wherein the auxiliary strap has its buckleand-loop-engaging portions detachably secured by snap fasteners so located that the loopsv and the buckle will be held in their proper positions and prevented from moving longitudinally o f the belt out of place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a .belt wherein a socket for receiving a stud cary ried by an auxiliary for securing arear in place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a belt which can be economically manufactured and sold at a reasonable price.

With these and numerous other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of strap also serves as means or inner beltjengaging loop parts as will be hereinafter referred to andmore particularly pointed claims.

The invention is illustrated ing drawing whereinout in the specification and in the accompany# Fig. 1 is a showing of a belt of the improved y construction in front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a view looking down upon Figure 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of one end portion a customer may select a' beltfr'om those in stock and have #the merchantl of the belt showing the auxiliary strap carrying the buckle and the top loops released.

Fig. 5 is afview similar to Figure 4 showing the auxiliary strap in position for removal of the buckle and the top loops therefrom.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view vof the buckle and the top loops.

The belt which is vindicated in general by the numeral I may be formed of leather or any other pliable material desired. This belt is of suitable length and width and its end portions carry auxiliary straps 2 and 3 which are relatively narrow, as shown in Figure 1, and have their inner end portions Vstitched or otherwise permanently secured against outer faces of the end portions of the belt. The strap 2 is formed with the usual openings l to receive the bill 5 of the buckle' 6 carried by the strap 3,*which strap also carries the vopening l extends longitudinally of the strap to accommodate #the eye 9 of the bill 5 and the opening III through which the free end of the strap 3 is passed through the strap extends transversely of the belt and is formed with recesses or notches Il midway its length to accommodate the eye 9.

In order to detachably hold the strap 3 in the secured position shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

sistlng of sockets there have been provided snap fasteners constudsv I5, I6 andy I1. The sockets are secured through the end portion of the belt carrying the strap 3 with the opening I 0 located between sockets I2 and I 3 and it should be noted that sockets Il'and Il have their open ends presented outwardly while socket I2 hasits open end presented inwardly, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. It should also be noted that socket I4' not only passes through the belt but also through the outer portion of the rear or inner loop 'I8 through which the inner over-lapped end portion of the belt passes when the belt is worn and secured about a persons waist. Therefore, this socket will servc as a fastener for the rear loop and hold it in its proper position upon the belt.

Whenthe belts are manufactured the narrow straps 2 and 3 are disposed longitudinally of end portions of the belt I and their inner end portions are secured by thev stitching I9 and 20. The rear loop I8 is slipped into place about` the I 2,'I3 and I4y and companion belt under strap 3 and secured by socket lil and the iront or top loops i are then slipped into place about strap 3 and the bill 5 o buckle il passed outwardly through opening d of the strap. After the bill has been passed through the operlf1 ing the .tree end portion oi the strap is passed through the buckle and inwardly through opening iii of the belt. The studs it and [Il are then pressed into the sockets i3 and it and since one loop l is located between the studs i6 and i'i and the other loop located between stud il and the stitched portion oi' the strap, they will be held in their proper positions at oppositesides of the rear loop iii. Pull is then exerted upon the free end of strap 3 and stud I5 pressed into socket i2 and the buckle will be securely held in place. li a customer does not like the buckle and the loops 1 applied to the beit, the strap 3 may be easily released by exerting pull upon the strap to snap the studs out of the sockets and another buckle and set of loops applied to the strap. A buckle and set oi loops made oi metal can be removed for cleaning and replaced without the belt becoming soiled during cleaning operation, and if a person purchases several sets of buckles and loops, they may be selectively applied to the belt for use until it is desired to substitute a buckle and set of loops of dierent color nr design.

From the foregoing description of .the construction of the invention, the operation thereof and the method oi applying the same to use, will be readily understood. lt will be seen that we have provided a simple, inexpensive and eidcient means for carrying out the objects oi the invention and while we have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform .the

functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to, with-v out departing from .the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles oi the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A belt oi a length adapting its end portions to overlap when worn, auxiliary straps carried by said belt and extending longitudinally of end portions thereof with 'their inner end portions secured against the outer face of the belt, a rear loop fitting about one end portion of vthe belt, snap fastener members spaced from each other longitudinally of the said end portion of the belt with one of the fastener members serving to secure the loop in place about the belt,

the said end portion of the belt being formed with an opening spaced from the free end thereoi and located between certain of the fastener members. the strap carried by the said end portion of the belt being of afwidth adapting its free endA portion to pass through the opening and formed with an opening for registering with the opening in the belt when. the strap is drawn inwardly through the opening, snap fastener members carried by the strap for detachably engaging the snap members oi the belt and rmly but detachably securing the strap, the opening of the strap being located between certain oi the fastener members thereof, 'top loops for engaging the other strap fitting loosely about the mst strap and held in position at opposite sides of the rear loop whenl the fastener members are interengaged, and a buckle iltting about the irst strap with its bill passing .through the opening thereof when the fastener member adjacent the outer end oi the strap is interengaged with the companion fastener member of the belli.:

2. l belt of e. length adapting it to have end portions overlap when worn, straps extending longitudinally oi end portions of the belt and having their inner end portions secured thereto, one end portion oi the belt being formed with en opening and the strap carried thereby being oi a Width adapting it to pass through the opening and rormedwith an opening to register with the opening of the belt when the outer end of the strap is passed inwardly through the opening oi the belt. a rear loop iii-,ting about xthe belt under the said strap, companion fastener members carried by the belt and the said strap, one of the fastener members carried by the belt also constituting securing means for the rear loop, .top loops tting loosely about the strap and removably held in place thereon when the iastener members are interengaged, and a buckle fitting about the strap with its bill passing through the opening oi the strep, said buckle being removably held in place upon the strap when the outer end oi the strap is passed through the opening oi the belt and fastener members at ends of the strap and the belt are interen- Saeed.

3.' A belt oi a length adapting it to have end portions overlap when worn, straps extending longitudinally oi end portions of the belt and having their inner end portions permanently secured thereto, interengaging fastener members carried by one end portion oi the belt and the :free portion of the strap carried ,thereby iorV releasably holding the :tree .portion oi the strap close against the belt, n rear loop dttlng about the belt under the said strap, ,top loops fitting loosely about the strap and removable therefrom when the strap is released, and a buckle removably carried by the strap, the buckle and the .top loops being held in place with the top loops located at opposite sides oi .the rear loop when the fastener members of the strap and the belt are inter-engaged with each other.

il. A belt oi a length adapting it to have end portions overlapped when worn, straps extending longitudinally oi end portions of the *eelt and having their inner end portions xed to the belt, top loops fitting loosely about one strap and removable therefrom, a buckle removably carried by the said strap, and companion fastener members carried by the belt and the said strap l for releasably securing the initially free end portion of the strap close against the belt and holding the buckle and the top loops in place.

5. 'A belt of a. length adapting it to have end portions overlapped when worn, straps extending longitudinally of end portions oi the belt and having .their inner end portions fixed to the belt, top loops itting loosely about one'strap and removable therefrom, a. buckle removably carried by the said strap, and companion fastener members carried by the belt and the said strap for reiessably securing. the initially free end portion oi the strap close against the belt, certain of thek fastener members being located between the top loops and between the buckle and one top loop .to maintain the top loops and the buckle in predetermined spaced relation to each other longitudinally of the strap, the outer end or the strap being passed inwardly through an opening belt portions and having their inner ends secured thereto, one of the said belt portions being 'formed with an opening spaced from its free outer end, the strap carried by thel said belt portion being of va width adapting it to be passed through the opening and being formed with an opening disposed outwardly of said belt portion when the strap is passed through the opening thereof, a buckle fittingl about said strap with its bill passing through the opening in the strap, and companion snap fastener members carried by the outer end portions of thel said belt portion and the said strap to releasably secure the same in engagement with ea-ch other an'd detachably mount the buckle.I

7. A belt having Ipoi-tions overlapped when worn, straps extending longitudinally'of the said belt portions'and having their inner ends secured thereto, one of the said belt portions being formed with an opening spaced from its free outer end, the strap carried by the said belt por- .tion being of a width adapting it to be passed through the opening, snap fastener members' ear. ried by the outer end portions of the .said belt portion and the said strap to releasably secure the same in face to face engagement thereof,

vand a buckle fitting about said strap prior to passage of the strap through 'the opening and detachably held .thereon when the strap is passed through the opening and secured.

8. A belt of a length adapting it to have end portions overlapped when worn, straps extending longitudinally of end portion-s of the belt and having their -inner end portions xed .to -thep b'el't, a loop carried by one strap, a buckleremovably carried by said strap between the loop n and the outer end of the strap, and companion fastener members carried by said strap and the belt for releasably securing the initially free end of .the strap against the belt and removably holding the buckle in place. IRBY F. GASSERT.

JAMES C. HOFFMAN. 

